A year later, N.L. still working on plan to deal with rule-breaking landlords and tenants
Last spring, Caio De Naday Hornhardt found himself in a frustrating situation when he believed his former landlord had wronged him with a same-day eviction. Determined to seek justice under the Residential Tenancies Act, he spent weeks trying to navigate the process of having fines imposed on the landlord. However, despite the clarity of the written law, he encountered obstacles in enforcing it.
A year has passed since provincial government officials acknowledged the gap in the system and promised to take action. Unfortunately, the finalization of this work has been delayed, leaving De Naday Hornhardt and others in limbo. The lack of progress has left him feeling frustrated and uncertain about the reasons for the delay.
De Naday Hornhardt is not alone in his quest for answers. Sherwin Flight, the administrator of a Facebook group for landlords and tenants in the province, has also been seeking updates from the government without much success. Vague responses and promises of imminent progress have left many wondering when tangible changes will be implemented.
The Department of Digital Government and Service NL has acknowledged the need for action and is currently working on a pilot project to address the concerns raised by individuals like De Naday Hornhardt and Flight. The legislation was changed in 2018 to increase penalties for violations, but the lack of enforcement mechanisms has rendered these changes ineffective.
In a statement, the department mentioned that they are working on a pilot project to address compliance issues with the Residential Tenancies Act. The goal is to achieve voluntary compliance through education and awareness, without resorting to court action. The recent hiring of a residential tenancies officer is a step towards identifying contraventions and exploring ways to increase compliance.
Despite these efforts, there is still a sense of impatience among housing advocates who are eager to see concrete progress. The pilot project is expected to be fully implemented in the near future, but the pace of transformation from promises to policies remains a concern.
In conclusion, the journey towards better enforcement of the Residential Tenancies Act in Newfoundland and Labrador has been a slow and frustrating one. While efforts are being made to address the gaps in the system, there is a need for swift and effective action to ensure that landlords and tenants are held accountable for their actions. Only time will tell if the pilot project will bring about the desired changes and provide a more robust framework for enforcing tenancy rules in the province.